Dance training method and system using sensor-equipped shoes and portable wireless terminal

ABSTRACT

Provided are a method and a system for providing dance training by using a portable wireless terminal in communication with sensor-equipped shoes capable of sensing a user&#39;s foot motion. While the terminal executes a dance training program having step information, sensing modules embedded in the shoes sense a user&#39;s foot motion and transmits related data to the terminal through a short-distance wireless communication unit. Then the terminal compares the foot motion data with the step information and outputs comparison results by using a display unit and/or an audio unit.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application No. 2006-30379, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 4, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an applied technology of a portable wireless terminal and, more particularly, to a method and a system for dance training using the portable wireless terminal engaged with sensor-equipped shoes capable of sensing a user's foot motion.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable wireless terminals, such as a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and the like, have become a necessary convenience of modern life. Moreover, with the rapid growth of relevant technologies, and to satisfy a variety of user's increasing demands, portable wireless terminals have had various, specific, useful functions in addition to inherent, essential functions thereof.

To offer additional functions to users of portable wireless terminals, motion-detective sensors have been studied recently in the art. For example, shoes equipped with sensors are provided that can be utilized with the portable terminal, coupled via short-range wireless communication such as ZigBee and Bluetooth, as known to those of skill in the art. The sensor in the shoes perceives a user's foot motion and transmits associated information to the terminal that a user carries. Then, based on the foot motion, the user-carrying portable terminal provides entertaining functions such as melody generation and various games, or health-supporting functions such as a stroll checker and other motion measurements.

These applied functions are, however, restricted to outputting only results of the user's foot motion by means of a screen or a sound. For instance, when a user who wants to learn a dance uses the applied functions offered by the terminal, he or she may only be able to see his or her dance steps on the screen of the terminal. However, in light of a user's goal for learning dance, output to only the screen may not be sufficient to meet user's needs and desires.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and a system that allow practical and effective dance training by using a portable wireless terminal engaged with sensor-equipped shoes capable of sensing a user's foot motion.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a method and a system that enable a user to easily and conveniently learn a dance using a portable wireless terminal.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a dance training method using a foot motion sensing module and a portable wireless terminal. The dance training method includes executing a dance training program including step information in the portable wireless terminal, sensing a foot motion in the foot motion sensing module, transmitting sensed data of the foot motion from the foot motion sensing module to the portable wireless terminal, comparing the foot motion data with the step information of the dance training program in the portable wireless terminal, and outputting results of the comparing in the portable wireless terminal.

The step information may include the order of dance steps and the location of each foot in each step. Similarly, the foot motion data may include the locations of feet and the order of dance steps. Additionally, the dance training program may include a dance item selection, an exhibition dance preview, a partial dance exercise by stage, and a complete dance exercise.

The method may further include, after the executing the dance training program, executing a partial dance exercise, by stages via the portable wireless terminal, and transmitting a request for sensing of foot motion from the portable wireless terminal to the foot motion sensing module.

In the method, the transmitting of the sensed data is executable via a short-distance wireless communication unit of the foot motion sensing module.

In the method, comparing of the foot motion data with step information preferably includes receiving data through a short-distance wireless communication unit of the portable wireless terminal, and extracting the foot motion data from the received data. Furthermore, the comparing of the foot motion data with the step information may include comparing the location of a foot in the same step.

In the method, the outputting of the comparing results preferably includes simultaneously showing the foot motion data and the step information in different types of image on a display unit of the portable wireless terminal. Furthermore, the outputting of the comparing results may include informing the comparing results in a voice or a sound through an audio unit of the portable wireless terminal.

In addition, the present invention provides a dance training system that includes a foot motion sensing module perceiving a foot motion and transmitting data of the foot motion, and a portable wireless terminal executing a dance training program including step information, receiving the foot motion data from the foot motion sensing module, comparing the foot motion data with the step information, and outputting results of the comparing.

In the system, the foot motion sensing module includes a sensor unit perceiving the foot motion and calculating therefrom the foot motion data, and a short-distance wireless communication unit transmitting the foot motion data to the portable wireless terminal. The sensor unit may include at least one of a geomagnetic sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope.

In the system, the portable wireless terminal preferably includes a short-distance wireless communication unit receiving data, a foot motion perception unit extracting the foot motion data from the received data, a comparator comparing the foot motion data with the step information, and an output unit outputting the comparing results. The output unit may include a display unit and an audio unit.

The foot motion sensing module is preferably embedded in a shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in when:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a foot motion sensing module of a dance training system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a portable wireless terminal of a dance training system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a dance training method in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a sample output menu of a dance training program in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a sample exhibition dance preview of the dance training program;

FIG. 6 shows a one stage of a sample selected partial dance exercise by stage of the dance training program; and

FIG. 7 shows a sample portion of a complete dance exercise of the dance training program.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the disclosed embodiments convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and well-known structures and processes are not described or illustrated in detail to avoid obscuring the essence of the present invention.

Components of the dance training system of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 illustrates in a block diagram a foot motion sensing module of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a portable wireless terminal of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the foot motion sensing module 10 preferably includes a sensor unit 11, a control unit 12 (a first control unit, hereinafter), a memory unit 13 (a first memory unit, hereinafter), and a short-distance wireless communication unit 14 (a first short-distance wireless communication unit, hereinafter). The sensor unit 11 includes a geomagnetic sensor 11 c an accelerometer 11 b, and a gyroscope 11 a. A foot motion sensing module 10 is preferably embedded in each shoe of a user (a learner, hereinafter), preferably, in the sole of the shoe.

The sensor unit 11 perceives a foot motion depending on a learner's movement and calculates therefrom foot motion data. In particular, the geomagnetic sensor 11 c detects the location and the direction of a learner's foot, and the accelerometer 11 b detects the moving velocity (i.e., the moving distance) of a learner's foot. The gyroscope 11 a is used as an auxiliary manner that perceives the direction and the moving velocity of a learner's foot. The accelerometer 11 b and the gyroscope 11 a may recognize a learner's step by calculating variations of sensing values as a learner steps on the floor.

The first control unit 12 controls the operation of the foot motion sensing module 10. Specifically, the first control unit 12 receives a foot motion sensing request via the first short-distance wireless communication unit 14 and then transmits the request to the sensor unit 11. Additionally, receiving foot motion data from the sensor unit 11, the first control unit 12 stores the data in the first memory unit 13 and transmits the data via the first short-distance wireless communication unit 14. The transmitted foot motion data preferably includes an identification code of the foot motion sensing module 10.

The first memory unit 13 temporarily stores the foot motion data that the sensor unit 11 senses and outputs. Such foot motion data include the locations of feet, the order of dance steps, and preferably also includes the directions of feet, the moving distance, the count of dance steps, etc.

The first short-distance wireless communication unit 14 transmits the foot motion data stored in the first memory unit 13 using short-distance wireless communication technique such as ZigBee or Bluetooth.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the portable wireless terminal 20 includes a short-distance wireless communication unit 21 (a second short-distance wireless communication unit, hereinafter), a foot motion perception unit 22, a control unit 23 (a second control unit, hereinafter), a memory unit 24 (a second memory unit, hereinafter), a Radio Frequency (RF) communication unit 25, a display unit 26, and an audio unit 27. The second control unit 23 includes a comparator 23 a. The portable wireless terminal 20 includes a variety of electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a Portable Digital Assistant (PDA), a hand held PC, a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), etc., which provide convenient portability and functions including data processing, data offering, communication, and so forth.

The second short-distance wireless communication unit 21 receives various data via the short-distance wireless communication technique.

The foot motion perception unit 22 extracts the foot motion data, transmitted by the foot motion sensing module 10, from the data the second short-distance wireless communication unit 21 receives. The foot motion data preferably includes the identification code, so the foot motion perception unit 22 may extract the foot motion data by using the identification code.

The second control unit 23 controls the operation of the portable wireless terminal 20, executes a dance training program including dance step information, and requests the detection of foot motions to the foot motion sensing module 10. The comparator 23 a compares the foot motion data extracted by the foot motion perception unit 22 with the dance step information in the dance training program. The second control unit 23 sends the result of comparison executed in the comparator 23 a.

The second memory unit 24 stores the dance training program that includes various dance step information by item and by stage of a particular dance. The dance step information has the order of dance steps, the locations and the directions of feet in each step, and so forth. The second memory unit 24 stores the foot motion data extracted by the foot motion perception unit 22.

The RF communication unit 25 performs an ordinary communication function of the portable wireless terminal 20.

The display unit 26 and the audio unit 27 output the results of dance step comparison executed in the comparator 23. The display unit 26 will preferably simultaneously show the foot motion data and the dance step information in different types of image, and/or show their comparison results in a text form. The audio unit 27 provides information about the comparison results in a voice and/or a sound.

Hereinafter, a dance training method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating, the dance training method of the invention As shown in FIG. 3 the portable wireless terminal 20 executes the dance training program in step S31. The dance training program has various dance step information by item and by stage for learner's dance training and is stored in the second memory unit 24. According to a learner's input, the second control unit 23 loads and executes the dance training program stored in the second memory unit 24.

The dance training program preferably includes several menus such as a dance item selection, an exhibition dance preview, a partial dance exercise by stage, and a complete dance exercise, as shown in FIG. 4., which shows a sample output menu of the dance training program in accordance with the present invention. The dance item selection is a menu that allows a learner to select one of the available dance items. For example, such dance items may have a tap dance, a waltz, a tango, a cha-cha, a samba, a rumba, etc.

An exhibition dance preview shows all actions of a learner's selecting dance in a moving image or animation format. Suitable background music is also preferably output to the preview the available dances. FIG. 5 shows a sample exhibition dance preview of the dance training program.

The partial dance exercise, by stage, outputs step information of the dance selected by the learner, by stage. Following the step information in this menu, a learner can learn the selected dance by following each stage of the dance, as further described below. FIG. 6 shows one stage of a sample selected the partial dance exercise of the dance training program.

The complete dance exercise is a menu for not only showing all actions of the selected dance in a moving image or an animation, but also continuously outputting the step information. Therefore a learner can try to perform the entire dance course. Additionally, this menu continuously displays the foot motion data of a learner as well as the step information, and allows for a final evaluation for the results of dance learning, As described below FIG. 7 shows a sample portion of the complete dance exercise of the dance training program.

Returning to FIGS. 1 to 3, after the dance training program is executed, the second control unit 23 executes a menu of the partial dance exercise, by stage, on receipt of a learner's input in step S32. Then the step information about a learner's selected dance item is shown on the display unit 26, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The example provided in FIG. 6 utilizes images to show the location and direction of the learner's feet at a particular step of the selected dance item.

After executing the partial dance exercise, the second control unit 23 transmits a request for sensing a learner's foot motion to the foot motion sensing module 10 in step S33.

On receipt of foot motion sensing request, the foot motion sensing module 10 senses a learner's foot motion through the sensor unit 11 and calculates the foot motion data in step S34. In other words, a learner performs a dance according to the step information displayed on the display unit 26, and the sensor unit 11 perceives a resultant foot motion.

For example, the sensor unit 11 obtains data on a first step by sensing the location and the direction of a learner's foot while a performs presses the first step. Subsequently, the sensor unit 11 recognizes a next step from variations of sensing values when a learner performs a second step, and then calculates data on the second step by sensing the location and the direction of a learner's foot. Alternatively, the sensor unit 11 may sense the moving velocity of a learner's foot when a learner moves a foot to perform a second step. Then the sensor unit 11 may obtain the moving distance between the first and second steps by using the moving velocity, and also calculate data on the second step.

The first control unit 12 transmits the foot motion data, which the sensor unit 11 senses and outputs, to the portable wireless terminal 20 through the first short-distance wireless communication unit 14 in step S35. At this time, the foot motion data may include the locations of both feet, the order of dance steps, the identification code of the foot motion sensing module 10, the directions of both feet, the moving distance, the count and tempo of the dance steps, etc.

The second short-distance wireless communication unit 21 of the portable wireless terminal 20 receives the foot motion data transmitted by the foot motion sensing module 10. Then the foot motion perception unit 22 extracts the foot motion data from data the second short-distance wireless communication unit 21 receives. At this time, the foot motion perception unit 22 uses the identification code of the foot motion sensing module 10 when extracting the foot motion data.

After the foot motion data is extracted, the comparator 23 a compares the foot motion data with the dance step information in step S36. Specifically, the comparator 23 a receives the foot motion data from the foot motion perception unit 22 and reads the dance step information in the second memory unit 24. Then the comparator 23 a compares the foot location of the foot motion data with that of the corresponding step information. If the result of comparison is the same location, the step is determined to be right. However, if different, the step is determined to be wrong. The comparator 23 a sends such judging data to the output units 26 and 27. When the comparator 23 a determined whether the step is right or wrong, proper margins may be allowable. For example, if the foot locations are within a predetermined range, it may be determined to be the same step. In addition, the direction of the foot, together with the location, may be considered for comparison.

The output units 26 and 27 output the results of step comparison the comparator 23 a executes in step S37. The output will preferably simultaneously show the foot motion data and the step information in different image types on the display unit 26. Making reference to FIG. 6, the step information is displayed without color and the foot motion data is displaying in color, allowing each to be readily distinguished from each other. For the foot motion data, a black, a blue, and a red color will preferably represent a current step, a right step, and a wrong step, respectively. Preferred the output also shows the comparison results as a text on the display unit 26 (for example, see FIG. 6, ‘wrong step: No. 3’). Still another example of the output is to inform of the comparison results by using a sound or a voice output through the audio unit 27.

Next, the second control unit 23 decides whether to end the dance training in step S38. Specifically, the second control unit 23 waits for a learner to terminate the dance training program currently being executed. If the termination an input is received, the second control unit 23 quits the dance training program and then preferably launches a start scene of the dance training program. If terminated input is not received, the aforementioned processes are repeated from step S32 with the repeated execution of the dance training program preferably returning to the same stage or the next stage of the dance exercise.

As discussed heretofore, a learner may execute the dance training program stored in the portable wireless terminal and then select a menu of the partial dance exercise, by stage. The terminal shows dance step information about a learner's selected stage on the display unit and waits for a learner's correspondence foot motion. The foot motion sensing module obtains foot motion data through the sensor unit and transmits the data to the terminal via a short-distance wireless communication unit. On receipt of the foot motion data, the terminal compares them data with the dance step information and outputs the results of comparison to a learner.

Accordingly, the present invention may not only output information about dance steps, but also inform whether a learner successfully follows the dance steps. The present invention allows for practical and effective dance training and enables learners to easily and conveniently learn various dances. Furthermore, the present invention may reinforce the portable wireless terminal with applied functions and enhance its utility and competitiveness.

While this invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A dance training method using a foot motion sensing module and a portable wireless terminal, the method comprising: executing a dance training program including step information stored in the portable wireless terminal; sensing foot motion data by the foot motion sensing module; transmitting the sensed data from the foot motion sensing module to the portable wireless terminal; comparing the foot motion data with the step information of the dance training program stored in the portable wireless terminal; and outputting results of the comparing in the portable wireless terminal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step information includes an order of dance steps and locations of feet in each step.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the foot motion data includes locations of feet and an order of dance steps.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dance training program includes at least one of a dance item selection, an exhibition dance preview, a partial dance exercise, by stage, and a complete dance exercise.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after the executing of the dance training program, executing a partial dance exercise, by stage, in the portable wireless terminal; and transmitting a request for the sensing of the foot motion from the portable wireless terminal to the foot motion sensing module.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the sensed data is executed via a short-distance wireless communication unit of the foot motion sensing module.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing of the foot motion data with the step information includes receiving data through a short-distance wireless communication unit of the portable wireless terminal, and extracting the foot motion data from the received data.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing of the foot motion data with the step information includes comparing a location of a foot by same step in the dance training program.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting of the comparing results includes simultaneously showing the foot motion data and the step information in different types of image on a display unit of the portable wireless terminal.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting of the comparing results includes informing of the comparing results in a voice or a sound via an audio unit of the portable wireless terminal.
 11. A dance training system comprising: a foot motion sensing module perceiving a foot motion and transmitting data of the foot motion; and a portable wireless terminal executing a dance training program including step information, receiving the foot motion data from the foot motion sensing module, comparing the foot motion data with the step information, and outputting results of the comparing.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the foot motion sensing module includes a sensor unit perceiving the foot motion and calculating therefrom the foot motion data, and a short-distance wireless communication unit transmitting the foot motion data to the portable wireless terminal.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor unit includes at least one of a geomagnetic sensor, an accelerometer and a gyroscope.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the portable wireless terminal includes a short-distance wireless communication unit receiving data, a foot motion perception unit extracting the foot motion data from the received data, a comparator comparing the foot motion data with the step information, and an output unit outputting the comparing results.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the output unit includes a display unit and an audio unit.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the foot motion sensing module is embedded in a shoe.
 17. A portable terminal for display of a dance training program, the terminal comprising: a short distance wireless communication unit for communicating with first and second sensing modules respectively embedded in right and left shoes of a user of the dance training program; a memory storing the dance training program; a controller for comparing foot motion data received from the sensing modules with step information of the dance training program; and a display for outputting results of the comparing, wherein the foot motion data and step information are simultaneously displayed. 